South Africa continues to experience persistent public management challenges despite an extensive constitutional, legislative, and policy framework designed to promote accountable, ethical, and developmental governance. This article examines the recent challenges confronting public management in South Africa, focusing on governance failures, corruption, state capture, institutional capacity, ethical leadership, accountability, public service professionalisation, and service delivery. The article further evaluates current public sector reforms and proposes practical strategies for strengthening governance and building a capable, ethical, and developmental state. Although South Africa has established comprehensive governance frameworks, including the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, the Batho Pele White Paper (1997), the National Development Plan (NDP) 2030, and the National Framework Towards the Professionalisation of the Public Sector (2022), persistent challenges such as corruption, political interference, weak institutional capacity, poor financial management, ineffective accountability, and declining public trust continue to undermine public sector performance and service delivery. These governance deficiencies have constrained socio-economic development and weakened the effectiveness of democratic institutions. The study employed a systematic literature review (SLR) using a qualitative research approach. A systematic search and critical review of peer-reviewed journal articles, books, government legislation, policy documents, commission reports, oversight institution reports, and publications from national and international organisations were undertaken. The review incorporated evidence from the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture (Zondo Commission), the Public Service Commission (PSC), the Auditor-General South Africa (AGSA), the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA), the National Planning Commission, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and the United Nations (UN). The collected data were analysed using thematic analysis to identify recurring governance challenges, reform initiatives, and emerging trends in South African public management. The review found that South Africa possesses a robust constitutional and policy framework for public administration; however, implementation remains inconsistent. Corruption, state capture, political interference, weak institutional capacity, ineffective leadership, inadequate accountability, poor financial management, and limited implementation of governance reforms continue to impede effective service delivery. The findings further indicate that public service professionalisation, merit-based recruitment, ethical leadership, strengthened oversight, improved financial governance, institutional capacity development, and effective implementation of the recommendations of the Zondo Commission, Public Service Commission, and Auditor-General South Africa are critical to improving governance and restoring public trust. The article concludes that strengthening public management in South Africa requires more than policy and legislative reform; it requires effective implementation, ethical leadership, institutional professionalism, transparent governance, robust accountability mechanisms, and sustained political commitment. The successful implementation of public sector reforms has the potential to improve service delivery, enhance institutional resilience, combat corruption, restore public confidence, and contribute to the achievement of the National Development Plan 2030, the African Union Agenda 2063, and United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 16. The article provides evidence-based recommendations that contribute to policy development, public sector reform, and future research on governance and public administration.